Condiment shaker



May 1, 1956 A. E. e. SELLERS 2,743,851

CONDIMENT SHAKER Filed Dec. 11, 1953 United States Patent O 2,743,851 CONDIMENT SHAKER Albert E. G. Sellers, Radnor, Pa.

Application December 11, 1953, Serial No. 397,547

2 Claims. (Cl. ZZZ-457.5)

This invention relates to dispensers for granulated substances, and more particularly to salt shakers adapted to minimize the efiect of atmospheric moisture on the salt.

Prior to the present invention,- many attempts to provide moisture-proof salt shakers employed structures de signed to seal the contents in the salt shaker from the atmosphere. In an articlesuch as a salt shaker it is practically impossible to provide an air-tight seal which will seal the contents tightly when the shaker .is not in use and yet be opened when it is desired to use the shaker. Other forms of moisture-resistant salt dispensers in which some form of a dead-air space is used to protect the salt from the moisture in the atmosphere have the disadvantage of having a narrow opening through which the salt must pass and wherein it may become, clogged.

With the foregoing in mind the principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel salt dispenser wherein the salt is effectively isolated from contact with moisture in. the atmosphere,

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel salt dispenser in which there are no small openings which may become clogged by the salt.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel salt dispenser of the above-mentioned type wherein there are no projections or edges onwhich the salt may collect.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel salt shaker having the advantages and characteristics setv forth which may be manufactured easily and cheaply and which is entirely efiicient and effective in operation and use.

These and other objects of the present invention and the various features and details of the operation and construction thereof are hereinafter more fully set forth and described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of a salt dispenser made in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view diametrically through the dispenser shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view partially in section of the salt container and base member of the dispenser shown in Fig. 1; and n Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the salt dispenser shown in Fig. 1.

The present invention comprises, essentially, a salt dispenser having a unitary container and base member in which the container is supported on the latter, open-end up, in such a manner that a large unobstructed discharge opening is provided between the bottom of the container and the base. A cover is adapted to fit over the container and be secured to the base with clearance between the top and sides of the container and the inner surface of the cover so that the salt may flow unimpeded out of the top of the container and downwardly between the container and cover, thence out through the opening in the base.

Referring more specifically to the drawing, reference numeral 10 designates, generally, a salt dispenser comprising an annular base 11 on which a salt container 12 is supported. The container 12 is supported in spaced relationship vcoaxially of the base by a diametrically arranged fin or web 13. In the present instance the container 12 has a slight taper toward its closed rounded bottom and is open at the top, and may be molded, as a unitary structure, integral with the base 11 and web 13, of a clear or colored plastic, metal, or any other suitable material.

The annular base 11 has a cylindrical upper portion 15, which is externally threaded as at 16 to receive the cover, and a relatively enlarged flange portion 17 at the bottom thereof which provides a seat for the bottom edge of the cover, hereinafter described, and also as a stand for the salt dispenser 10; The inner surface of the portion 15 of the base is cylindrical and provides a smooth surface devoid of projections or edges onwhichsalt might collect.

Asshown, the diameter of the opening 11a provided by the annular base 11 is substantially greater than the diameter of the container bottom end which it surrounds so that a large discharge or outlet for the salt is provided. in addition, the web or fin 13 has the minimum thickness required to provide the necessary support for the container 12 and may have its upper edges beveled or rounded to provide a sharp edge so that no obstruction lies in the path of discharge of the salt from the dispenser 10.

A cover 19 is provided to fit over and enclose the container 12. The lower edge portion of the cover 19 is internally threaded as at 20 for screw engagement with the threads 16 on the base 11 so that the dispenser 10 may be grasped and shaken to discharge the salt therefrom without the various parts thereof becoming detached. The inner surface of the cover 19 above the screw threads is provided with an undercut shoulder 21 which overlies the upper end edge of the cylindricalbase portion 15 so that the inner surfaces of the cover 19 and base portion 11 are flush, thus presenting a continuous smooth surface having no projections on which the salt may collect. v

Clearances 22 and 23 are provided between the sides and upper end respectively of the salt container 12 and the inner surface of the cover 19 so that the salt may escape from the container 12, flow downward between the cover 19 and the outside of the container 12 and through the opening 11a. In this connection it is to be noted that in the illustratedembodiment of the invention the cover member19 is tapered toward its closed upper end and cooperates with the oppositelytapered configuration of the container 12 to provide between said container and cover an annular discharge passage for the salt which decreases in area progressively from the outlet opening Ila in the base 11 of the dispenser inwardly or upwardly to the top of the container. By providing this discharge flow passage of decreasing area to the top of the container 12, the moisture in the atmosphere outside of the dispenser is prevented from reaching the salt in the container 12. This is so because any moisture-laden air which tends to enter the dispenser through the base opening 11a is prevented from reaching the salt in the container by the air already in the dispenser which cannot be displaced or compressed sufiiciently by the atmospheric air to permit the latter to reach the interior of the container 12. a

It 'Will be apparent that this construction provides a dead-air space which effectively isolates the salt from moisture in the atmosphere and thus maintains the salt dry at all times so that salt is readily discharged from the dispenser at all times and under all climatic condilatedtrom contact with the atmosphere.

present invention provides a novel salt shaker in 1! so that it is'possible to distinguish between salt and pepper shakers. Preferably, the button 24 is secured in a recess or cavity 25 in the closed top end of cover 19. This cavity 25 which is sealed by the mouse serves" to provide a dead-air chamber in the top of'the cover in confronting relation to the container open mlto heat transfer to andfrom the innew mrfwe of the cover top portion which overlies the end of the container.

' he an dispenser 10 is filled by unscrewing the cover I" and pouring the salt into the container 12. In cedar to dispense the salt therefrom when the cover I! isin' place, all that is necessary to do is to hold the container upright and shake 'it up. and down slightly. The be forced over the top edge of the container 12, WHY pass downward between the outer edge thereof and theeover 19 and be discharged through the opening lh'ill'ihfi base 11.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present [provides a novel salt shaker or like dispenser there are no small openings which may become Med with salt and in which the salt is effectively iso- Furthermore,

w ltichnormal shaking of the dispenser is suflicient to bunk any, caked or large lumps of salt and allow the sell tobe removed therefrom.

lt'will be apparent, of course, that use of the shaker on dispenser is not limited to salt but may be used genorally as a dispensary for condiments and other maserials in finely divided form, and while certain embodi- W10 the present invention have been illustrated and herein, it is not intended to limit the present to such disclosures, and changes and modificaflom may be incorporated and embodied therein within the scope of the following claims.

-1. A dispenser for finely divided material comprising slannliarbase having an upstanding cylindrical pordon provided interiorly with a smooth surface defining a central discharge opening for the material, a conteiner'for the material closed at the bottom and open at 7 theta!) disposed coaxially of the base, said container being 8 leastat, the bottom portion thereof of smaller diameter than said basedischarge opening, a web secured m base extendingdiametrically across said base discharge openingand upwardly above said base fixed to .seid zer at the bottom and sides thereof interconneetingsaid, base and container and supporting the latter relative to the base in a vertical position with the lower -of the container terminating within the upper on o! said base discharge opening, said web being 'of minimum thickness required to support said can title! and base relative to each other to provide minimum obstruction to passage of the material through the discharge opening, a cover closed at the top and open at the bottom secured to the base and surrounding the container to provide thereabout an enclosed space in open communication with said discharge opening, the said cover having a smooth inner surface terminating adjacent its open end in an annular shoulder coextensive with. and arranged to seat upon the upper end surface of the cylindrical portion of the base to provide a flush joint between the smooth inner surfaces of the cover and base for the unobstructed flow of material from the top of the container to the discharge opening.

2. A dispenser for finely divided material comprising an annular base having an upstanding cylindrical portion provided interiorly with a smooth surface defining a large central discharge opening for the material, a container for the material closed at the bottom and open at the top disposed coaxially of the base, said container being'at least at the bottom portion thereof of smaller diameter than said base discharge opening, a Web secured to said base extending diametrically across said base discharge opening and upwardly above said base fixed to said container at the bottom and sides thereof interconnecting said base and container and supporting the latter relative to the base in a vertical position with the lower portion of the container terminating within the upper portion of said base discharge opening, said web being of the minimum thickness required to support said container and base relative to each other to provide minimum obstruction to passage of the material through the discharge opening, a cover closed at the top and open at the bottom secured to the base and surrounding the container to provide thereabout an enclosed space in open communication with said discharge opening, the said cover having a smooth inner surface terminating adjacent its open end at an annular shoulder coextensive with and arranged to seat upon the upper end surface of the cylindrical portion of the base and provide a flush joint between the smooth inner surfaces of the cover and base for the unobstructed flow of material from the top of the container to the discharge opening, said container and cover being tapered in respectively opposite directions to provide therebetween an annular passage for the material of progressively decreasing area upwardly from the discharge opening to the top of the container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 813,649 Jones Feb. 27, 1906 903,548 De Hayes Nov. 10, 1908 913,026 Meaker Feb. 23, 19.09 2,136,805, Scharinger Nov. 15, 1938 2,597,749 Reilly May 20, 19-52 

